From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Bipartisan When members from two different political parties (in the contemporary Congress, Democrats and Republicans) work together to find a common solution, or when members from both parties work together in a group or jointly sponsor or co-sponsor legislation. In the House, the Speaker consults … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms At-large Representative An at-large representative is a member of the House whose congressional district is their entire state. Under the Constitution, seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned among the states. They are reapportioned every ten years following the decennial census. Every state is … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Government Printing Office / Government Publishing Office / GPO / Federal Depository Libraries The Government Printing Office (GPO) is a legislative branch agency. The name changed in 2014 to Government Publishing Office. GPO’s core mission of “Keeping America Informed,” dates to 1813 when Congress determined … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Legislative Branch Agencies / Architect of the Capitol / AOC To ensure that Congress has independent sources of information from the executive branch to support it in its legislative and oversight responsibilities, Congress formed several legislative branch agencies. Stone Preservation on Capitol Hill … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Government Accountability Office / GAO / Comptroller General The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan legislative agency that works for Congress. Often called the “congressional watchdog,” GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. The head of GAO, the Comptroller General … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Dear Colleague letters Members of Congress circulate Dear Colleague letters to urge their colleagues to co-sponsor their legislation. It is common in both chambers for the key proponent of a measure to send a Dear Colleague letter (in print or electronically) to other members requesting … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Exclusion / Disorderly Behaviour / Censure / Reprimand / Expulsion Members of Congress are subject to disciplinary procedures in their respective chambers. The Constitution states (Article I, Section 5, cl. 2): “Each House may . . . punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Congressional Budget Office / CBO Introduction to the Congressional Budget Office The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Government Accountability Office (GAO) principally serve congressional committees with a variety of reports. The Congressional Budget Office assists Congress in understanding the economic and fiscal environment … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Mid-Term Elections / Casualty List Mid-term elections / Midterm Elections are the national elections held in November of the even-numbered years between presidential elections. Mid-term election years include 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026, etc. Presidential elections are held very 4 years, including 2012, 2016, 2020, … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Rules The term “rules” has two specific congressional meanings. A rule may be a standing order governing the conduct of House or Senate business that is listed among the permanent rules of either chamber. The rules deal with duties of officers, the order of business, … Read more